Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, said elections “are but one step in the democratic process – the new transitional authority must engage constructively with all political actors and finally begin the hard work of building democratic institutions that remain severely underdeveloped throughout Egypt.”

Casey traveled to Egypt in April and stressed work is needed to allow the country to “once again emerge as a genuine leader in the region.”

“Democratic reform will take time following years of autocratic rule by Mubarak and democratic backsliding in recent years,” he said. ”During this tenuous period, the U.S. should be vigilant in support of the democratic process, a free and open press and minority rights in the country.”

“During this period of upheaval it is critical that all parties exercise restraint, that protests are peaceful, and that violence is rejected. Already too many lives have been lost during this period of unrest, including that of an American citizen,” Menendez said. “It is imperative that a political solution be reached for the sake of the Egyptian people, and that the nation quickly returns to a democratic and peaceful path where the people’s voices are heard and respected.”

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) criticized the administration for not supporting that democratic process thus far.

“While popularly elected, President Morsi’s government curtailed freedom of religion and equal rights for the Egyptian people as the country’s economy fell into a drawn out period of stagnation,” Issa said.

“Real democracy is about more than just one election – it requires a framework of justice and respect for the rights of all. Unfortunately, U.S. policy toward Egypt did too little to promote true democracy and avoid the necessity of the events that have taken place,” the chairman continued. “The people of Egypt and institutions, including the Egyptian military, historically have been friends and allies to the United States. Our country must support the aspirations of the Egyptian people for a democratic government that respects the rights of all citizens.”

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) called it “unfortunate that Morsi did not heed popular demands for early elections after a year of his incompetent leadership and attempting a power grab for the Muslim Brotherhood.”

“Morsi was an obstacle to the constitutional democracy most Egyptians wanted,” Royce said. “I am hopeful that his departure will reopen the path to a better future for Egypt, and I encourage the military and all political parties to cooperate in the peaceful establishment of democratic institutions and new elections that lead to an Egypt where minority rights are protected. But make no mistake about it, Egypt is in for very difficult days.”

Adly Mansour, chief justice of the country’s Supreme Constitutional Court, will be Egypt’s interim president and opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei will be interim prime minister.

At the State Department today, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said as the ouster unfolded she would not “rank the sides.”

“We don’t take sides, as you know,” Psaki said, adding that they’d been in touch with “all the factions of the Morsi government” as the situation unfolded.

Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with the now ex-president in March, did not issue a statement on Morsi’s ouster.

Though Washington was generally subdued about the dramatic power shift, some lawmakers took to Twitter with their opinions.

Bridget Johnson is a veteran journalist whose news articles and opinion columns have run in dozens of news outlets across the globe. Bridget first came to Washington to be online editor at The Hill, where she wrote The World from The Hill column on foreign policy. Previously she was an opinion writer and editorial board member at the Rocky Mountain News and nation/world news columnist at the Los Angeles Daily News.
She is an NPR contributor and has contributed to USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, National Review Online, Politico and more, and has myriad television and radio credits as a commentator. Bridget is Washington Editor for PJ Media.

" but we are committed to the democratic process and respect for the rule of law,” Obama said."

Really, Mr. President? Where the hell were you when Morsi unilaterally scrapped the previous Egyptian constitution, without a vote of either the people or the legally elected Egyptian parliament, and substituted a Salafist creed? What did you say to that? Oh, yeah, nothing. That was all hunkey dory. The problem here is that another of your co-religionists has been tossed by his own people, and you hate that.

What an utter embarrassment for those Americans that are not interested in furthering the goals of radical islamists as is the Obama Administration.

We could use a similar "coup" in the United States to depose this despicable traitor to our nation and to restore the Constitution of the United States to its rightful place as the law of the land.

What the hell is wrong with this administration that it was giving military aid to the government of the Muslim Brotherhood in the first place, and now is getting huffy about withdrawing aid now that the MB is out?

What exactly does one have to do in order to be charged with treason in the country, anyway?

I can type the words "coup" and "obama" in a comment on the internet and expect that it will be duly recorded in my "file" while Barry Soetoro flies all over the world spraying acid in the face of the county that he is supposed to be upholding and defending.

He condemns transgressions against the democratic process in Egypt and in other places, yet his campaign in both '08 and '12 was a mockery of any rational conception as to how democracy is supposed to work in a Federal Republic.He shall be hoist upon that petard, and it will not be painless; though we will suffer the pain knowing that it will result in a better end - the total destruction of his vaunted reputation, and the reputation of his handlers and enablers.

Obama has been turned into a foreign policy joke; only he doesn’t know it. Calling for Mubarak’s ouster and then siding with the MBs was bad enough. He compounds it a year later by telling the world he’s really put out by what has happened in Egypt, revealing his true Muslim sympathies. This Misfire is so disgusting the country should turn him into a political ghost next year; mere humiliation would be too lenient a punishment.

Pretty darn clear what's going on when you go out and research what's been going on in Egypt independently. The other day there were 16 million plus civilians in the streets demanding that Morsi step down. The military took the side of the people and put their power behind them. Morsi was fairly elected but he lied to the people and they called him on it. The people did not wish to replace a secularist dictator with a theocratic Muslim dictatorship. As their freedoms were being removed, they stood up and said very clearly ENOUGH to Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Turkey may be next in line for a radical shift in leadership. Truly enlightening to see the two very very different viewpoints based on personal statements released by the Democrats and the Republicans. Seems to be the Democrats have their proverbial heads up their arses while the Pub's actually see the forest through the trees! I say, Power to the People! Seems Obama is delaying the healthcare mandates until after the 2014 election because he knows it will only waken the sleeper. The US citizens are asleep and don't realize what Obamacare is about to do and they know they cannot get re-elected or attempt to win the House if the truth is revealed. The Democrats know if you see their true face you will not side with them. They are the ultimate liars and cheats.

Today, of all days, is a good day to recall a less famous citation from the Declaration of Independence:"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government"

If I were the Egyptians, I would advise the divider in chief to 'put it where the sun never shines.' It's obvious, obama agrees with the Muslim Brotherhood style of governance; "It's my way or the highway."

Barry's response to the overthrow of his terrorists friends in Egypt is a lot quicker than the one we are still waiting for in regards to the assasination of four Americans in Benghazzi. Why? because now he is motivated, he has 'skin' in the game.